Hitched: My Naughty Wife

Chapter 8: Taking Pleasure in Others' Misfortune

Dora squinted in disbelief. She hadn't expected her father to say those things. A surge of anger coursed through her body, and her voice turned icy.

"So, I use cheap tactics? I have no limits? I'm turning your household upside down? I haven't even done anything yet, and you've already berated me mercilessly. You don't just blame me; you drag my entire hometown into it. What's wrong with being a country girl? Is it a crime that I haven't lived off your riches? Do you despise me just because I'm not what you consider high society? Do you know what I can't stand about you the most? Your perpetual condescending attitude towards others. You want me to get engaged? Fine! I'll be there on time tomorrow. I hope you won't regret it!"

She cut the call without feeling particularly angry but with her hand still trembling.

What was the point of getting mad at them? If she had issues, she could always get back at them. When did she become so compassionate? He wasn't her family. What was so special about that insignificant blood relationship?

She kept repeating these thoughts to herself, but her emotions remained unsettled. She leaned against the wall for a long time without moving.

Not far away, Flavio watched Dora and couldn't help but smirk. "Is your boyfriend cheating on you?"

Dora, noticing it was Flavio, grew even more irritable. "Why do you care?"

Flavio chuckled, "Women like you getting cheated on is only a matter of time. You'll get used to it."

Dora froze in her tracks and then flashed a sly smile at him. "True, I'm not as lucky as you. The odds of you getting cheated on are practically zero because there are so few people blind enough to find you attractive. After all, you can't even find a girlfriend."

Flavio's face darkened. "It seems like getting expelled didn't teach you a lesson."

Dora raised her lips, "I should thank you for that."

Flavio said, "Well, you can enjoy your retirement at home."

Dora smiled lightly, "You'll have to take care of that." With that, she turned and walked away.

Flavio muttered, "..."

----

The next day, Flavio was being nurse for his old man at the hospital, waiting for someone from the Beyond family to take over. Just as he was about to leave, he had a chance run-in with Dora. She'd changed her clothes, sporting a white sweatshirt on top and black skinny pants below, looking all fresh and crisp, but her eyes still had that untamed wildness in them.

You'd think she was going to a party, not an engagement ceremony. It was more like she was up for some trouble. She was alone and didn't have anything with her. She waved down a taxi by the roadside and off she went.

Flavio had a mischievous grin and told Lenell, who was driving, "Follow her!"

Lenell's eyebrows twitched. Wasn't Mr. Beyond not so fond of this woman? Why tail her? Was it to take matters into their own hands, even?

He felt a shiver down his spine, but obediently replied, "Sure."

He turned the car around and followed Dora's taxi. They stopped at a hotel entrance.

Lenell sighed with relief. He figured that woman was lucky because Mr. Beyond wouldn't choose a place like this for a confrontation.

On the hotel's scrolling marquee, it read, "Welcome to the engagement ceremony of Ms. Dora and Mr. Yousuf."

Flavio furrowed his brow and asked, "Who's this Yousuf guy in connection with Nechemya?"

Lenell explained, "Mr. Beyond, he's his son. He sent you an invitation a few days ago."

Flavio had an epiphany, "Oh, I see. Let's go in and take a look."

Lenell raised an eyebrow, "Mr. Beyond, you barely slept last night. A person of your stature can afford to skip events like this."

But Flavio replied with a sly smile, "Well, I am bored anyway. Let's go join the fun."

So, Dora had already entered the hotel. After a night of cooling off, she wasn't as furious as she was last night. She was thinking about finding Zackaree to arrange Yma and Yousuf's engagement privately. She didn't care about them one way or another!

As she was looking around and couldn't find anyone, she walked past a lounge when someone suddenly pulled her into a room.

Dora wasn't prepared for it and stumbled a bit. When she saw it was Yousuf's face, a strong sense of repulsion surged through her. She jerked her hand back and didn't hide the look of disgust on her face.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

Yousuf frowned, anger flaring up, "What's with that expression? You're really going to look down on me, huh? Let me tell you, Dora, if you dare to humiliate me by... "

Dora interrupted, "And then what?"

She coldly glanced at him and found a chair to sit down. She grabbed some tissues from the table and wiped the spot where Yousuf had touched her, meticulously making it spotless.

Seemed like an elegant move, but it was more cutting than any words.

Yousuf's face visibly reddened. He threatened, "Alright, if that's how you're going to be, let's just cancel the wedding."

Dora's lips curled into a scornful smile. She spoke with a tone that suggested he was mentally challenged, "Who do you think you are? Trash like you, why would I want you?"

"You—" Yousuf seethed, his eyes turning red. He took a few menacing steps toward her, his face full of anger, "So why the hell did you come here? Planning to complain about me? I'm telling you, if you dare to expose what happened last night, I'll kill you!"

He reached for her pocket, but before he knew it, his hand was grabbed, and he felt an intense pain in his arm. In the blink of an eye, he was sprawled on the ground!

Yousuf was in agony, clutching his chest. He felt like his sternum had shattered. But that wasn't the most terrifying part.

What was truly terrifying was how capable Dora turned out to be. They had dismissed her as some country bumpkin, but she had just schooled them.

Dora planted her foot on his back and looked down at him, "Tell me, how did you plan to kill me?"

Yousuf struggled, "Dora, let me go!"

Dora, with an expressionless face, remarked, "You've got too much pride, thinking you're a lion when you're just a dog."

She released him and turned to leave. Yousuf, humiliated beyond measure, struggled to get up, "Dora, even if you complain, your dad won't believe you. He'll think you schemed against us, and all you'll get is a scolding!"

Dora's face darkened a bit. She looked at him and said two words, "Scared, huh?"

Yousuf snorted, "I don't believe you can do anything!"

Without looking back, Dora left the room. The banquet hadn't started yet, but there were already quite a few people in the hall. Dora couldn't find Zackaree at first, but then her gaze inadvertently fell on a familiar face.

Familiar to the extent that they'd seen each other twice in one day!

She rubbed her aching forehead. Fate had a funny way of bringing them together. Who would've thought they'd invite this guy to the engagement ceremony?

At that moment, he was grinning at her with a look that said he was enjoying the show.

No matter how you looked at it, he wasn't someone worth bothering about.

Flavio asked, "Didn't see that coming, did you? You're the star of the show today."